P0016 Crankshaft and Camshaft Out of Sync (Bank 1)
Caution
The crankshaft and camshaft are not where they should be relative to each other. It can be a sensor, but it can also be a stretched timing chain. Take it seriously until you know which.
- Safe to drive?
- Not far, until you know the cause
- Typical cost at a shop
- $224-$2,764 RepairPal national averages, parts and labor
- Emissions test
- Yes, while the check engine light is on, most OBD emissions tests fail the car.
- Carmaker bulletins
- 3 notes with links
What it means
The crankshaft and camshaft each have a position sensor, and the computer checks all the time that they agree. P0016 means the intake cam on bank 1 is out of step with the crank. Either a sensor is wrong, or the mechanical timing between them has really changed.
The technical version
The computer learns the normal offset between crank and cam signals. When the measured offset moves past its limit, P0016 sets. On engines with variable valve timing, a phaser stuck away from its rest position can also cause it. Several carmakers have bulletins that link P0016 to timing chain wear or to a moved cam reluctor (see make notes).
Official name: Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor A).
Symptoms
- A rattle for a few seconds after a cold start.
- Rough running, hard starting or stalling.
- Sometimes no symptom at all.
Causes, most likely first
| Cause | How likely | How to tell |
|---|---|---|
| A stretched timing chain or weak tensioner | common | Cold-start rattle, VVT codes such as P0011 with it. |
| A stuck VVT phaser | common | The engine runs rough at idle and VVT codes come with it. |
| A faulty cam or crank sensor, or a damaged or moved tone wheel | less common | The engine runs normally and the code is intermittent. |
| Oil problems affecting the VVT system | less common | Low or dirty oil. |
| A belt or chain installed one tooth off after engine work | rare | The code appeared right after timing work. |
How likely is our ranking from repair data and common practice, not a published rate.
What the live data shows
Crank and cam correlation is not a standard OBD reading, so proof of chain stretch needs a scope or a look inside. Standard data still helps: companion codes, whether the freeze frame shows a cold or warm engine, and how steady the idle is.
What to check first, in order
-
Check the oil level and condition.
Cheap, and it affects VVT.
What the data shows: No reading needed.
Cost: free
-
Read companion codes and the freeze frame.
P0011 and a cold-start rattle point to mechanical wear.
What the data shows: Coolant temperature and rpm when it set.
Cost: no cost if you have a scanner
-
Check your car against the make notes below.
Some engines have a known bulletin.
What the data shows: No reading needed.
Cost: free
-
Inspect cam and crank sensors and wiring if the engine runs normally.
Cheaper parts first when the engine is healthy.
What the data shows: No reading needed.
Cost: $224-$326 at a shop (Camshaft position sensor replacement, RepairPal)
-
Have the timing chain checked if a rattle or other signs point there.
Driving on a jumped chain can destroy an interference engine.
What the data shows: Not a scanner step.
Cost: $2,120-$2,764 at a shop (Timing chain replacement, RepairPal)
Is it safe to drive?
Caution
Not far, until you know the cause. A timing chain problem can end an engine.
Treat this one seriously until it is proven harmless. If it is a sensor, nothing bad happens. If the timing chain has stretched or jumped, driving on can let the pistons hit the valves on many engines, which ruins the engine. If the code came with a start-up rattle, rough running or hard starting, stop driving and have it checked. If the car runs perfectly, get it checked within days anyway.
Stop driving and get help if
- The engine rattles, runs rough or is hard to start.
- The check engine light flashes.
What it costs
| Repair | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Camshaft position sensor replacementRepairPal, updated September 3, 2026 | $224-$326 |
| Crankshaft position sensor replacementRepairPal, updated September 3, 2026 | $230-$335 |
| Variable valve timing (VVT) solenoid replacementRepairPal, updated September 3, 2026 | $469-$594 |
| Timing chain replacementRepairPal, updated September 3, 2026 | $2,120-$2,764 |
National averages for the full job at a shop, parts and labor, from RepairPal (updated September 3, 2026). Your price depends on the car and the area. Many of the first checks on this page cost nothing with a scanner.
Can I clear it? Will it come back?
Clearing it proves nothing: if the timing has moved, the code returns quickly. Clear it only after the repair.
Will it fail an emissions test?
Yes, while the check engine light is on, most OBD emissions tests fail the car.
Carmaker notes
Service bulletins and warranty extensions that name this code. Ask a dealer to check your VIN.
-
GM 2008-2012 Equinox 3.6L, 2010-2012 Terrain 3.6L, 2007-2012 Acadia, 2009-2012 Traverse and others
GM bulletin 12-06-01-009F (March 2015) covers timing chain kits for the 3.6L V6 with P0008, P0009, P0016, P0017, P0018 or P0019.
GM 12-06-01-009F via NHTSA static.nhtsa.gov
-
GM 2010-2016 Equinox and Terrain 2.4L
GM bulletin PIP4548E (December 2015): P0016 or P0017 on a correctly timed engine can come from a camshaft reluctor that has moved on the camshaft.
GM PIP4548E via NHTSA static.nhtsa.gov
-
Volkswagen 2008-2013 2.0L turbo (CCTA, CBFA)
VW bulletin 15 12 01 (July 2012): rattle after start, P0016 and P0328, timing chain slipped. It says chain tension may be wrong because of the tensioner.
VW TB 15 12 01 via NHTSA static.nhtsa.gov
Related codes
Also related, no guide yet: P0017, P0008, P0340, P0335.
How Obie handles P0016
Obie reads companion codes and the freeze frame, asks about a cold-start rattle, and tells you plainly when to stop driving. Obie is part of ScanMyCar Pro. Codes and live sensors are free.
Questions people ask
Is P0016 serious?
It can be. If it is the timing chain, driving on can ruin the engine. Get it checked within days, and stop driving if the engine rattles or runs badly.
Can a bad sensor cause P0016?
Yes, but check for chain wear before you assume it is only a sensor.
How much does it cost to fix P0016?
From a sensor to a timing chain job. See the cost table on this page.
Sources
- RepairPal: P0016 code page repairpal.com
- RepairPal: Camshaft position sensor replacement (updated September 3, 2026) repairpal.com
- RepairPal: Crankshaft position sensor replacement (updated September 3, 2026) repairpal.com
- RepairPal: Variable valve timing (VVT) solenoid replacement (updated September 3, 2026) repairpal.com
- RepairPal: Timing chain replacement (updated September 3, 2026) repairpal.com
- GM 12-06-01-009F via NHTSA static.nhtsa.gov
- GM PIP4548E via NHTSA static.nhtsa.gov
- VW TB 15 12 01 via NHTSA static.nhtsa.gov
- Texas DPS emissions testing FAQ dps.texas.gov
- Arizona myazcar.com: OBD and the check engine light myazcar.com
A guide, not a diagnosis. This page describes what P0016 generally means across OBD2 cars. What is actually wrong with your car depends on its live data and its history, and any repair decision deserves a proper diagnosis, whether that is you with a scanner or a professional with a lift.
